A Weekly Update from Wayward Haven Farm.
As always, we welcome your comments, questions, or suggestions. You can find previous updates here, and you can follow the weekly reflections on living well over at From the Hermit’s Porch.
This week’s Porch post, “The Relief of Not Having to Know,” leans into something we’ve been practicing here at the Haven: letting orientation replace control. When you stop forcing clarity and start listening for what feels true, life steadies. Self‑trust grows quietly. Wayward Haven’s Conditions for Living Well explore how to live from that steadier center.
Weather, Soil, and the Slow Shift Into Summer
Summer is nearly here, and the heat and humidity have already settled in. We’re grateful for the rain we received these past few days, though the forecasts point toward another dry season. The predicted El Niño doesn’t look like it will offer much relief. All of this makes us especially glad we planted earlier than usual this year; the dry season seems to arrive a little sooner—and linger a little longer—every summer.
This Week’s Harvest: Beans, Squash, and Pickles
The first stringless green beans came in this week—always a favorite at the Nicholasville Farmers Market. We’ll have a few pounds of fresh beans available, along with several pints of our Dilly Beans, one of our most popular canned hors d’oeuvres.
We’ve updated the growing and crafting list so you’ll know what to expect at our booth this week.
The zucchini, yellow squash, and cucumbers are growing faster than we can keep up with. Whatever doesn’t sell at market becomes pickles, and those are now on offer—bread & butter, hamburger dill, and our jalapeño‑kissed zuke pickles that bring a little heat without overwhelming the palate.
Corn Watch: Early Growth and Hungry Neighbors
The corn is about waist‑high now. It’ll be a while before it tassels and sets ears, and we’ll be doing our best to keep the raccoons at bay. A few years ago they wiped out one of our earliest plantings, and we haven’t forgotten. Folks will start asking about corn long before it’s ready, but as always, we’ll let nature set the pace and keep you updated.
Wildlife Notes: Painted Turtles on the Move
Around the pond, the painted turtles have begun their annual wanderings to lay eggs. We often catch them digging their nests in the oddest places. The eggs that make it to term hatch around September, and by spring we find tiny turtles in the garden or yard and carry them back to the pond. They’re impossibly cute.
June Farm Opening: Walks, Classes, and Refreshments
Our next opening here at the farm is Thursday, June 18 through Sunday, June 21, daily from 2PM–6PM. We’re planning a few simple events and will have refreshments available for anyone who stops by. The farmstand will be stocked as well.
The Solstice is the year’s great moment of presence — the longest day, the fullest light, the season standing still for a heartbeat before it turns. Opening the farm during this window is our way of honoring that pause. A chance to slow down, walk the land, and feel the season shift from becoming to being.
We’ve set up an RSVP form so you can let us know you’re coming. Here’s what we’re planning:
- Farm Walks — 2–3PM & 5–6PM (Plant ID and more)
- Class: Herbalism Basics — 3PM (RSVP required)
- Q&A: In the Garden — 4PM
- Refreshments — all day